Manifolding device



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MANIFOLPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 8. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 vwemtoz $1, damn, g g I Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER E. OLIVER, OF WOODCLIFF, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORTO AUTOGRAPHIC REGIS- TEE 00., OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MAN IFOLDING DEVICE Application filed October 8, 1921. Serial No. 506,291.

My invention relates to that class of devices generally known as manifolding devices, that is, to machines in which one or more strips of fabric or paper are advanced, step by step, for entry of transactions, one of the strips, in some instances, being wound in the machine itself to form a continuous record of all transactions entered on the register. In this latter form of the invention, the device is generally known as a recorder, and where the record sheet is omitted, the device is generally known as a register;

One feature of my invention is the provision of a novel and improved form of stripadvancing mechanism, which is applicable to either the register or recorder type of ina- Chine.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of means for spacing the several strips as they approach the writing bed, therebyeliminating all friction between the strips. When applied to the recorder type of machine, the spacing means or any partof them may also be utilized to cause the advancement of the record strip.

This application is .a continuation in part of my. copending application, Serial No. 443,871, filed February 8, 1921.

I will describe one form of device embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly sectioned, showing one form of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the strip-separating means located in the upper right hand corner of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of the device, partly sectioned, showing one form of record roll operating mechanism which may be used in a recorder type of device and embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a sectionalview on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing the strip-advancing mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fi 5. Fig. 7 is a: sectional view on the line 7 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. I

Similar reference characters refer to simi lar parts in each of the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, the form of device there illustrated is of the recorder type. It comprises a structure having parallel vertical side members 2 and 2 held together in spaced relation by tie rods 4. Mounted in these side members at the rear or elbow end of the machine is a rod 14 on which a writing bed or' platen 5 is pivotally supported, and which platen, when closed, constitutes a cover for the major portionof the structure. Also pivotally mounted on the rod 14 is a margin-frame 6 which when closed is adapted to lie parallel with and close to the platen and is provided with a rectangular opening 6, through which the top strip of paper is exposed to receive written statements of transactions or other matter.

The reference characters 7?, 8 and 9 designate three paper-supply rolls which are removably and rotatably mounted in slots 64 in the side members 2 and 2 below the platen 5, and fromwhich three superimposed strips of paper 7, 8 and 9 are supplied to the space between the platen and the margin frame in the manner hereinafter explained. Also located between the platen and themargin frame are sheets of manifolding material such as carbon paper, 25 and 25*, there being one such sheet between each two record strips 7 8 and 9, which carbon paper is supplied in any suitable manner from a roll or rolls mounted to rotate in a box 26 attached to the outer surface of the side member 2.

Initially printed on each of the three strips of paper 7, 8 and 9 is a series of forms 35 designed to receive thewritten" statements of transactions (either by hand or typewritten) which are to be entered on the register, and near the head of each form, two similar holes 36 are initially punched or otherwise formed in each strip, such holes being sym' metrically located with respect to the center line of the form, and both holes bein placed at the same distance from, the bee of the form.

Near the forward end of the machine is a hood '11 supported by the side members to cover and protect portions of the strip-feeding mechanismwhich is designated as a whole by the reference character A and is hereinafter described in detail. At the front of the hood 11 is a tearing edge 11 which facilitates the manual detachment of the paper strips from the register. The hood 11 carries, a spring pressed, manually releasable latch 65, cooperating with the margin cover 6 to hold the latter and the platen in closed position.

The register shown herein is of the recorder type, land so'it includes a spindle mounted to rot te in the side members 2 and 3 and adapted to receive the paper strip 7 in the form'of a record roll 7". The manner in which this spindle is rotated will be ex lained hereinafter. The forward end of tie register is closed, when in use, by acover 12 pivotally mounted in the side members at 4 and provided witha lock 75 to prevent unauthorized access to the record roll 7". v

The rear or elbow endof the platen 5 is provided with a recess 5 to receive a ,roller frame B and to permit the paper stri s 7, 8 and 9 to pass upwardly anda-long tie top surface of the platen. The frame B comprises two side plates 15 and 15 pivotally mounted on the rod 14 and connected by a tie rod 16. This frame is pressed laterally in one direction by a spring 17, one end of which isgattached to the rod 14 and the other end of which bears-against the side plate 15. The frame may be adjusted transversely in opposition to the action of this spring by a screw 18 which enters a threaded sleeve 19 in the side member 2 and co-acts with side plate 15.v The side plates of the frame B serve as guides for the paper strips 7, 8 and 9, and the purpose of this lateral adjustment is to enable the strips to be directed upon the platen in such positions thatthe holes 36 of the strips will be guided into alignment with the strip-feed mechanism at the front of the device.

Mounted in the frame B are three rollers 20, 21 and 22. The record strips 7 passes around roller 20 which is of special construction when my invention-is embodied in the recorder type of 'device to constitute part of the driving means for the record spindle 10 as will hereinafter appear, while the other two strips 8 and 9 pass around rollers 21 and 22 respectively. The three superimposed strips then pass forwardly along the platen 5 beneath the marginfraine 6 to the feeding mechanism A. e

The middle roller 21 is reduced in dia'n'ieter in two places, at which arepivotally mounts ed two spacing devices, here shown as being two substantially flat metal strips 23 which project forwardly and bear on the record strip 7 immediately above the roller 20. The rear roller 22 is similarly reduced in two places at which are mounted two other spacing devices also shown as two substantially flat metal strips 24 which project forwardly shown) and bear on the middle strip 8 immediately above the springs 23 and near the free ends ofthe latter. All four metal strips are bowed slightly upwardly as shown in the drawings so that when the platen and the margin plate are both closed the margin plate bears on the strips and presses them against the paper strips with appreciable force.

The metal strips 23 and 24 perform two functions; (a) they serve to press the record strip 7 against the roller 20 with sufficient force to insure that this roller will be rotated by the longitudinal movement, of the strip, and (b) they serve in conjunction with the carbon paper to keep the paper strips 7, 8 and 9 separated throughout the length of travel .of these paper strips overthe platen 5,. As for (a) it is essential that roller 20 shall be turned by the'longitudinal movement of paper strip 7 because this roller drlves the record roll or spindle. 10 as will appear hereinafter. The main advantages of the separating function, (6) of the metal strips are,

that the friction due to mutual contact of the strips is avoided, thereby permitting the paper strips to easily move into registry, and uniform pressure is assured at the same points on all paper strips so that even movement of the paper strips over the writing bed is assured. a y

' As I have already stated, the record roll spindle 10 is driven by the forward roller 20. This mechanism is as follows:

Roller 20 is provided with two spaced collars or sleeves 27, of gum, leather or other suitable material, which are located directly beneath the two metal strips 23 respectively. inasmuch as the aper record strip 7 rests on these collars and is pressed thereagainst by the combined actions of the pairs of-metal strips 23 and 24, it is apparent that rotation of roller 20 by the longitudinal movement of the record strip is assured. Fixed to roller 20 is a gear Wheel 28 which meshes (see Fig. 4) with an idler gear 29 mounted in side member 2, and this idler gear in turn meshes with a gear wheel 30 to which is fixed a sprocket wheel 32. The record rollfspindle 10 is connected by a tongue-and-groove device (not with a second sprocket wheel 34, and the two sprocket wheels are connected by a chain 31. i

The structure of thestrip-feeding mechanism'A'isas follows A feed roller 39 is journaled in two similar vertically movable brackets .40 and 40, provided respectively with tension springs 41 and 41, one end of each spring being anchored to the adjacent side member of the register casing. These springs tend to, draw the brackets 40, 40 and the feedroller downwardly, but permit these members to be moved upwardly in opposition to the action of the springs by means hereinafter explained. The feed roller is provided with reduced ends 67 which fit freely in slots at. the tops of two plates 66 and 66 which are attached to the side members 2 and 2 respectively. These slot-s serve as guides to insure movement of the feed roller in a vertical path. The upper ends of the brackets 40 and 40 are bent inwardly and co-act with hexagonal collars 67 which are loosely mounted on the reduced ends 67 and which assist the brackets in maintaining a considerable downward pressure on this pinand so on the roller Fixed to one end of the feed roller 39 is a gear wheel 42 which meshes with a similar wheel 43 attached to a shaft 44 which is ournalled in side members 2 and 2 and is located vertically beneath and parallel with roller 39. One end of shaft 44 projects beyond the register casing and is provided with a hand crank 45 for manual rotation of this shaft and consequently of the feed roller 39 when the gears 42 and 43 are in mesh. The normal direction of rotation of shaft 44 is counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7, and rotation in the opposite direction is prevented by a pawl 46 pivoted to the side member 2 and co-acting with gear wheel 43.

Mounted on the shaft 44 are two spaced collars 47 which are attached to the shaft in any suitable manner as by pins 48, and each of which collars is provided with a flange 49.constituting a disk roller. These disk rollers are located equal distances from the middle of the shaft, which distances are the same the distances of holes 86 from the longitudinal cen ter lines of the paper strips 7, 8 and 9.

Mounted loosely on the shaft 44 at or near the middle thereof is an auxiliary roller 50. This roller is held in position with relation to one collar 47 by a loose spacing sleeve 51, and between the roller and the other collar 47 is a compressed coiled spring 52 the tendency of which is to cause the auxiliary roller to revolve with the shaft due to friction when not restrained. The means for restraining rotation of roller will be explained hereinafter.

Jounalled in the side members 2 and 2 below the roller shaft 44 is a cam shaft 53, one end of which projects beyond the side member 2 and is provided with a handle 54 to facilitate manual turning of the shaft. This cam shaft is partially cut away at each end to form a fiat surface 55, and at each of these points the shaft is embraced by a slot in the adjacent bracket- 40. When the flat surfaces 55 are uppermost the brackets 40 are held down by the springs 41 so that the feed roller 39 is pressed firmly against the disk rollers 49 and the driving gears 42 and 43 are in mesh. When the cam shaft 53 is turned through a partial revolution, however, the brackets 40 are elevated against the action of springs 41, carrying with them the feed roller 39, so that this roller is moved away from the disk rollers 49 to permit the paper strips 7, 8 and 9 to he introduced between the feed roller and the disk rollers, the gears 42 and 43 being thrown out of mesh at the same time. I

v The auxiliary roller 50, in the form here shown, is made up of a plurality of disk-like laminations locked together by pins, and its general conformation is cylindrical. One surface of the roller is flattened at 50, however, and diametrically opposite this surface a recess 50 is cut in one end of the roller to co-act with a restraining 'pawl as hereinafter explained. \Vhen the feed roller 39 is in its normal or lower position, it engages with the auxiliary roller to advance the paper strips except when the flattened surface 50 is presented to the feedroller.

The reference character 56 designates a pawl-operating shaft which is mounted to oscillate in the side members 2, 2, and one end of which projects beyond the casing to receive a handle 57 which facilitates manual operation of the shaft. This shaft is biased to t lIIl in clockwise direction as viewed in the shaft by a pin 68 and is restrained from longitudinal movement. on the shaft away from this pin by a cotter 61. Collar 59 is provided with an elongated recess 59 and .a plate 60, the purpose of the recess 59 being to accommodate freely the forked end 62 of a pawl 62. This pawl, therefore, is capable of longitudinal movement towards and away from the shaft 56, and also a. swinging move ment around the shaft. nected with the plate 60 by a spring 63, the tendency of which is to swingthe pawl inwardly towards the bottom. of recess 50 in the auxiliary roller and also to move the pawl forward longitudinally along the cylindrical surface of this roller when it is pressed down: wardly out of the recess. To press the pawl out of the recess, I provide an offset ear 60 on the plate 6.0 which co-acts with a shoulder 62 on the pawl. In the normal position of the parts, a shoulder 60 on plate 60 rests against cam shaft 53 and the spring 63 holds pawl 62 firmly in recess 50*. \Vhen, now, shaft 56 is swung in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, carrying withit the collar 59, the car 60" depresses the pawl out of recess 50". whereupon the pawl is moved forwardly by spring 63 so that it then rests on the. cylindrical surface of roller 50. Subsequent rotation of shaft 44 their causes rotation of the auxiliary roller 50 until there- 'cess 50 again registers with a pawl 62 whereupon this pawl enters the recess under the influence of spring 63 and 1S driven back to its initial position, and so prevents further rotation of the roller.

In aCldltIOIltO the fr ctional means which I have described for operativcly connecting The pawl is conthe auxiliary roller 50 with shaft 44, I have herein shown a positive looking or clamping device for operatively connecting these two members when the roller is to function. This positive locking device comprises a pivoted pawl 69 mounted in the roller 50 and co-operating with recesses 70 in the shaft 44. The pawl, in the construction herein illustrated, is a portion of one of the rollerlaminations, and is pivoted on the pin 50 which holds these laminations toget er. The movements of the pawl 69 into and out of the recesses 70 are controlled bythe pressure of feed roller 39, for which purpose the pawl is so designed that as it rocks on pin 50 into andout of locking position, one circumferential end-or the other projects beyond thesurface of the roller .50. WVhen the roller 50 is in its inoperative position, that is, when its flat surface 50 is uppermost, pawl 69 is inthe 'unlocking position. When the roller ,50 is turned, however, the outerend 69 of the pawl is pressed inwardly as soon as the rounded portion of the roller 50 engages feed roller 39, so that the pawl is then forced into one of the shaft recesses 70, whereupon shaft and roller are positively locked together, thus insuring that the advancement of thepaper strips will take place. Subsequently, as the fiat surface of roller 50 again approaches the feed roller 39, the outer end 69 of the pawl is driven inwardly thereby swinging the pawl out of recess and so releasing the positive lock between roller 50 and shaft 44.

The operation of the entire device is as follows. Three rolls ofpaper 7*, 8 and 9 are first placed in proper positions in the slots 64 and the three strips from these rolls are drawn over the rollers 20, 21 .and 22? respectively while the platen is closed and the margin nlate open. The camshaft 53 is then swung by handle 54 to such position that the feed roller 59 is elevated so as to be out ofengage ment with the disk rollers 49, and the three strips of paper are then drawn forwardly over the platen 5 and areinserted between the feed roller and the disk rollers; The under strip 7 is then attached to the record spindle 10,

and the camshaft 53 is returned to its initialposition, thus permitting the feed roller 39 to return to its normal position under the action of springs 41; The margin frame 6 is then swung downwardly to its normal position, and the register is ready for use.

Hand crank 45 is then rotated until the first pair of holes 36 in the undermost strip 7 reaches the disk rollers 49 whereupon longitudinal-movement of this strip ceases. If the holes 36 in themiddle strip 8 do not register longitudinally with those in the undermost strip 7, the forward movement of the middle strip and the upper strip will continue until the holes in the middle strip reach the disk rollers 49 whereupon the movement of this strip will cease. Similarly, if the holes 36 in holes therein reach the disk rollers 49. After the three strips reach longitudinal registry, further operation of the hand crank 45- will have no effect on the paper. I

36 and the The relation between the holes printed forms 35 is such that these forms are now directly under the opening 6 in the margin frame 6, and consequently the forms are shaft 56 is swung forwardly to release the auxiliary roller 50, and the hand crank 45 is then turned to cause this auxiliary roller to turnvthrough one complete revolution. This movement ofthe auxiliary roller advances all three strips of paper far enough to carry the holes 36 beyond the disk rollers 49 so that further operation of the hand crank causes continued advancement of the strips due to the action of the disk rollers. This advancement continues until the next set of holes 36 reaches the disk rollers, at which time the movement of the strips again ceases. Such advancement however is su'flicient to carry the used forms beyond the cutting edge 11 so that the two uppermost forms may be manually removed at this edge, the'lower form of course being wound on the record spindle. 10 to constitute a record which can be removed only by unlocking the end cover 12.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of register embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications mhy be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

It will be understood that wherever in the claims I use the term manifold I mean either the register or recorder type of'machine, unless otherwise specifically limited to the recorder. type of manifolder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

. 1. Strip-advancing mechanism for manifolders employing a strip of fabric provided with a series of apertures in longitudinal alignment, said mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a disk fixed to said shaft in the path of travel of said apertures, an auxiliary roller frictionally attached to said shaft out of the path of travel of said apertures, means for restraining said roller from rotation with said shaft during a portion ready for the entry of a transaction. When this entry has been made the pawl operating alignment, said mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a disk fixed .to said shaft in the path of travel of said apertures, an auxiliary roller frictionally attached to said shaft out of the path of travel of said apertures, said roller having a flattened surface and a recess,

a pawl biased to engage said recess to lock the roller in such position that the flattened surface is presented to the fabric strip, and means for releasing said pawl from said recess and advancing it beyond the recess so that the roller is then free to make a complete revolution.

3. Strip-advancing mechanism for manifolders employing a strip of fabric provided with a series of apertures in longitudinal alignment, said mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a disk fixed to said shaft in the path of travel of said apertures, an auxiliary roller frictionally attached to said shaft out of the path of travel of said apertures, said roller having a flattened surface and a recess, a pawl coacting with said recess to lock the roller in such positionthatits fiattened surface is presented to said fabric strip, said pawl being mounted for both longitudi nal and swinging movement, means for biasing said pawl to swing towards said recess and to advance along the roller beyond the reccss when released from the recess, and manually operable means for releasing said pawl from said recess whereby the roller is then free to make a complete revolution.

l. Strip-advancing mecha'nismfor manifolders comprising a feed roller, a shaft parallel therewith, an auxiliary roller frictionally attached to said shaft, and means governed by said feed roller and the relation of the auxiliary roller thereto for at times positively connecting said roller to said shaft.

Strip advancing mechanism for manifolders comprising a feed roller; a shaft; an auxiliary roller frictionally attached to said shaft; and means operated by engagement with the feed roller for positively locking said auxiliary roller to said shaft.

(5.Strip-advancing mechanism for manifolders comprising a feed roller, a shaft parallel therewith, an auxiliary roller frictionally attached to said shaft, and a pawl movably mounted in said auxiliary roller and.

cooperating with recesses in said shaft, said pawl projecting beyond the operating surface of the auxiliary roller so that its operations are controlled by said feed roller.

7. A manifolder comprising a platen; means for advancing a plurality of superposed fabric strips along said platen; guides at one end of the platen over which the fabric strips are led to the platen; separators between adjacent fabric strips mounted on the guides and extending. beyond the guides toward the platen; and a margin frame which when closed' co-acts with the separators whereby pressure is exerted on the fabric strips for effecting even movement of the fabric strips over the platen.

8. A manifolder comprising a member;

vmeans for advancing a plurality of superposed fabric strips along said member; guides .over which the fabric strips are led to the member; separators carried by the guides and strips for effecting -even movements of the fabric strips over the member. I

9. In mechanism for feeding strips of fabric, in combination, a member over which said fabric strips are fed; means located at one end of said member for advancing said fabric strips thereover; guide rollers for directing said fabric strips into position over said member andvat the end of said member opposite that of said advancing means; and a plurality of sets of narrow metal strips ex tending from the guide rollers for separating the fabric strips as they are advanced over the said member from the guide rollers, said sets of metal strips being spaced from each other laterally with the fabric strips.

10, In mechanism for feeding strips of fabric, in combination, a member over which said fabric strips are fed; means for advanc ing said fabric strips thereover; a guide roller for each fabric strip; and a metal strip carried by one of said guide rollers extending toward the member for separating ad jacent fabric strips and separately tensioning the same as they advance from the guide roller. a

11. In mechanism for feeding a plurality of superposed strips of fabric, the combination, with a member over which. said strips are intended to be fed and to be worked upon; means located at one side of said member for advancing said strips thereover; and means individual to each of a plurality of said fabric strips for pressing it yieldingly toward said member to retard its advancement thereover.

12. In mechanism for feeding a plurality ofsuperposed strips of fabric, the combina tion, with a member over which said strips are intended to be fed and to be worked upon; mean-s located at one side of said member for advancing said strips thereover; means located at the opposite side of said member for directing said strips into position thereover; and means individual to eachof a plurality of said fabric strips, and carried by said directing means, for regulating the tension upon said fabric strips between said directing means and said advancing means. I

13. In a manifoldingdevice, in combination, a writing bed; guide rollers over which strips of fabric are fed to the writing bed; metal strips extending from the guide rollers for separating adjacent strips of fabric after they leave the guide rollers and also adapted to control the tension of the strips of fabric at a point beyond the guide rollers; and means for advancing said strips of fabric over the writingbed.

14. A device of the character described comprising in combination, means for supporting a strip supply, a tablet, means for feeding a plurality of strips from said supply over said tablet, means to support a supply of transfer material to be interposed between said strips and toextend laterally on each side thereof, a cover plate adapted to extend over said tablet, havingan opening to expose said strips, and means for maintaining separation of said strips as they pass onto the tablet and means on said cover plate to cooperate with said separating means to provide independent tension for each strip.

'- WALTER E! OLIVER. 

